Ok, My plan for the rest of the week was drive into town for propane and water then drive back up to Wildhorse for 2 days, drive into town on Thurs for wash and Waba Sabi, then Friday head to Hurricane.
Now the small stuff.
I burn about .8 gallons of propane per day, my tank will hold 5.6 gallons. Feed store where i prefer to fill up will be closed on Thurs and Fri. I would need propane while they were closed. That was Tuesday’s need. Left sleep spot off Willow Springs rd
Full propane tank. Drove up to Wild Horse rd then turned down a pipe line road a short ways to a flat spot on slick rock for the night. This put me right at a TH eliminating the 2 miles of road riding. This rode was riding Chisholm over to Horse Thief trails and wander around then return back on Getaway and finally Chisholm back to the van. Chilly days needing long underwear top, and now thermal leg warmers, still summer gloves. Knickers and knee socks might have worked but the knickers seem sag and catch the nose of my saddle. I bought the leg warmers and wanted to learn how they work. They are leg warmers which means pulling them well up my legs then overlapped with the elastic leg openings of the liners, they stayed in place and my legs were just right.
Wed afternoon was a momentous basketball game pitting 3rd ranked Gonzaga against first ranked Duke. On espn. Needed to get back down to town to watch. Today i rode the part of Chisholm heading north to connect with Navajo Rocks system Out and back.There is about 300′ of elevation difference from top to bottom. Just the right amount of spice for accomplishments. 11.9 miles climbing 712′ taking 1 hr 34 mins straight. Met just 1 rider, no badger this time. Cleaned up at the van then drove the 24 mikes back to town and Moab Brewery for the game. Scored a bar seat at comfortable distance from TV. I stayed focused on the entire game. Zags put a hurt on Duke for 3/4 of the game then Duke made a run. Gonzaga with great defense held them off to beat Duke. Gonzaga is now rated number 1 in the country. Drove back up in the dark to last night’s spot which was still vacant.
Thursday I got after it early and rode Rodeo this time straight. No difference in ride time or enjoyment. One hour 19 min appetite stimulator ride
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on RodeoCleaned up at van then drove back down to town. Today was laundry day. Clean clothes. Drove to Waba Sabi event in time for my 1:30 start. Lots of volunteers work to put this big Thanksgiving feed on. Lots of people sit down and eat. I worked my shift of 90 mins filling water containers. I turned in my bib then walked out to the end of the line for my dinner. The line was stretched outside the building and the food serving lines shrunk to one. I didn’t want to spend the time waiting for a possible less than full plate. Bummer. I fixed black bean burritos for my dinner
Plan became drive out to North Klondike TH which would put me on my route to Hurricane via I 70 and 15 for the shortest route. yeck on interstates but time became an issue. My reward for soulless driving I rode Klondike trails on the hard side. Trails are well signed and mapped at intersections and the assigned trail color is painted in stripes on the rock tread. I set out with an idea which was either concurred or modified at intersections. Big high up ride above Salt Valley. 11.8 miles climbing 1099′ taking 1 hr 48 mins.
Started just after 9 temp was 34 degrees. winter gloves.
Back at the van and warmth out of the wind. Cleaned up. 2 miles of all weather worm dirt road to pavement and posted 80 mph speed limit. Not me. I 70 crosses the San Rafael swell which is a spectacular engineering feat for views. Windy. No snow on the roads. I 15 headed south. Got off at Toquerville then headed up to Springdale to jacks in time to watch the first half of the Apple Cup. Snow storm dumped snow deep enough to obliterate field markings. Snow piled up on players helmets. Alas, weather grounded Leach’s Air Raid passing offense and defense could stop Huskies ground game. Cougs lost. I left at half time to drive out Sheep Bridge road for the night. Not as cold but the furnace still ran all night.
Today I drove down to the Hurricane Cliffs TH right above the Virgin River crossing. Small lot was full. Lots of riders out enjoying blue skies on dry trails. I rode the 24.4 mile loop climbing 2329′ in 3 hrs 16 mins. Just kept after it. I am now slower on the climbs and struggle to oxygenate my blood. I find if I upshift a gear and slow my rpms but add power to the stroke I can keep breathing in line. Lots of riders on the trails. Windy on my nose climbing out on exposed Goulds rim. Pedaled nonstop the jeep road to the top. Little using of the 46T gear. Lots more riders riding from the upper Jem TH.
Last week I rode 6 days. Count the liners hanging on the drying line.
Not tired, more drained after today’s ride. It’s just about 10 PM. Bed time. 38 degrees out, inside 69.
Tomorrow early ride on upper JEM trails before the weekenders.
Today riding the gravel road from the highway to the JEM TH, about .2 of a mile a pickup with bikes hung ove the tailgate started following me which was cool as he was behind me and not kicking up dust. I wasn’t lolly gagging speed wise but slow enough for his big truck with the windows rolled up. He passed me creating a dust cloud. I followed him to where he parked and banged on his window. He rolled it down and I said how could he be in such a rush that he could not consider me. He started saying something that I did not attempt to understand as I pedaled away. I am experiencing almost all drivers on gravel roads not slowing down to minimize their dust cloud. Just lack of consideration. And I finally got to vent on a driver.